Startup news for the long weekend 18/26

Funding

DAMALO raises 350,000 euros for AI-supported Microsoft consulting

The Düsseldorf-based startup DAMALO has closed a first round of financing for 350,000 euros to further develop its AI platform for SMEs. The solution uses specialized AI agents to automatically plan and implement Microsoft projects and is intended to replace traditional, cost-intensive IT consulting. The aim is to enable companies to digitize faster and more cost-efficiently while retaining the expertise within the company. The platform is operated in a GDPR-compliant manner in European data centers and is aimed in particular at IT departments without in-depth Microsoft expertise.

Groove Quantum raises €16 million and presents the largest semiconductor quantum processor

The Dutch start-up Groove Quantum has raised €16 million in funding and at the same time presented an 18-qubit processor based on germanium spin qubits. This is the largest semiconductor quantum processor of its kind to date. The technology is based on CMOS-compatible production, as used in conventional chips, and is therefore considered to be particularly scalable. The company intends to use the capital to further increase the number of qubits, start industrial production in semiconductor factories and develop systems with over 100 qubits in the long term. The aim is to accelerate the transition from experimental prototypes to industrially usable quantum computers.

Earlybird VC closes €360 million early-stage fund

Venture capital investor Earlybird has closed Fund VIII, its largest early-stage fund to date, for €360 million, continuing its continuous fundraising strategy since 1997. The fund already invests in areas such as AI applications, software infrastructure and deep tech and has financed its first start-ups. At the same time, Earlybird is introducing a new investment model in which the company remains permanently owned by active partners, without external shareholders. In addition, the investor is driving forward the use of its own AI platform to make investment decisions and support for portfolio companies more data-driven and efficient.

Bosch invests 200 million euros in new DeepTech start-ups

Corporate venture builder Bosch Business Innovations plans to invest around 200 million euros in the development of 20 new deep tech start-ups outside the Bosch Group's core business by 2030. The initial focus will be on the areas of remote medical monitoring, software-controlled manufacturing and carbon capture. The aim is to transform technological innovations into marketable companies more quickly, with external founders playing a key role. Bosch also cooperates with venture studios and investors to strengthen access to capital, expertise and international networks.

odacova secures financing for digital nutrition solution in operations

The Dortmund-based digital health start-up odacova has successfully completed its first round of financing, in which Aquarius Invest, 5P Future of Health and NRW.BANK are among those involved. The company is developing a platform for personalized nutrition in company restaurants that provides employees with individual recommendations and gives companies data-based insights to optimize their catering offerings. The aim of the solution is to link nutrition in everyday working life more closely with prevention and employee health and to scale the offering together with existing catering partners.

Cnuic receives funding for new chip technology

Edinburgh-based deep tech startup Cnuic has raised 3 million US dollars in an oversubscribed pre-seed round led by Tensor Ventures and Blank Space Ventures. The company is developing a novel photolithographic technology that uses light to enable the flexible and more efficient production of photonic chips. These chips promise significantly higher data transfer rates with lower energy consumption and could be particularly relevant for data centers and AI applications. The innovation is considered a potential breakthrough in the semiconductor industry and could strengthen Europe's role in global competition.

Cirql One raises 5 million euros for business context AI

The Munich-based startup Cirql One has closed a seed financing round of 5 million euros led by UVC Partners and with the participation of Fly Ventures. The company is developing a platform that extracts business context from enterprise systems such as SAP and transforms it into structured, reusable data products to make AI applications more reliable and scalable. The aim is to make operational decision-making logic, processes and governance usable for AI and thus facilitate the transition from experimental AI projects to productive corporate use. The first customers, such as dm-drogerie markt, are already using the solution.

Awards & events

Ludwigsburg supports start-ups with €100,000 rent subsidy at LIZZY

The city of Ludwigsburg is awarding over €100,000 in rental subsidies to fast-growing start-ups and scale-ups as part of a competition. Funding is available for companies that need space for production, development or storage and are planning their next growth step. The offer applies to capacities in the LIZZY innovation location in the Ludwigsburg Industrial Center, where flexible spaces and a technology-oriented environment are available. Applications are possible until May 17, 2026: www.ludwigsburg.de/lizzy

KfW Capital Award 2026: Application phase started

In 2026, the KfW Capital Award will once again honor personalities who shape the German venture capital ecosystem. Applications and nominations in the categories "Best Female VC Investor", "VC Game Changer" and "VC Exit Excellence" can be submitted until July 1. The award supplements the existing KfW Award Gründen with the investor side and is intended to strengthen the interaction between capital, expertise and entrepreneurship. A jury of venture capital, political and institutional players will decide on the award winners. Further information at www.kfw-awards.de

Berlin launches City Challenge 2026 for digital administrative solutions

The "City Challenge 2026" initiative in Berlin is calling on start-ups, SMEs and research institutions to develop innovative digital solutions for public administration. The focus is on two specific challenges: AI-supported language assistance for translation and transcription and smart roadworks information for traffic optimization. The best concepts will be awarded prizes and implemented as pilot projects together with the administration. The aim of the competition is to make administrative processes more efficient, more citizen-oriented and more sustainable.

Mergers & Acquisitions

NestFrame takes over COLIV

The Stockholm-based company NestFrame has acquired the Nordic provider COLIVE, thereby further expanding its new European platform for shared housing. COLIVE will serve as a regional platform for Sweden and the Nordic market and is expected to continue its growth. The acquisition is part of NestFrame's strategy to bundle leading local operators and accelerate their expansion through capital, infrastructure and shared resources. At the same time, the company is planning further partnerships in Europe, particularly in Germany and Spain.

Successful exit for BayBG: Shimadzu acquires majority stake in Plasmion

The deep-tech start-up Plasmion from Augsburg has been majority-acquired by the Japanese Shimadzu Corporation, which acquires 75% of the shares while the founders retain a stake. Plasmion develops the patented SICRIT® technology, an ion source for mass spectrometry that enables direct real-time analysis of substances from ambient air without complex sample preparation and is already used in various laboratory applications. With Shimadzu, the company has gained a globally established partner in the field of analytical measurement and diagnostic systems, which will expand the existing collaboration and accelerate the international market launch of the technology.

MACH expands GovTech portfolio through acquisition of SMS

MACH GmbH has acquired Aachen-based specialist provider SMS System-Management Stiewi GmbH in order to expand its software offering for the public sector. SMS's solutions for travel and expense management complement MACH's existing ERP and financial software and strengthen the mapping of complex, regulated administrative processes in particular. The acquisition is part of the growth strategy since the partnership with Main Capital Partners and should enable additional cross-selling potential and greater market penetration.

Cooperations & partnerships

Techem and Futury cooperate for innovation in the Rhine-Main region

The energy service provider Techem and the startup platform Futury GmbH have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the Rhine-Main region. The aim of the collaboration is to provide start-ups and talented individuals with targeted support in the development of sustainable and digital solutions, particularly in areas such as energy efficiency, climate protection and smart services. By combining industrial expertise and a strong network of start-ups and science, marketable innovations are to be created and scaled more quickly.

Upvest becomes infrastructure partner of growney

The digital asset manager growney will rely on Upvest's investment infrastructure to further develop its platform. The partnership covers central processes such as order execution, custody, settlement and back-office functions via an integrated API. The aim is to offer users faster and more transparent investment services as well as expanded access to ETFs and funds. While new customers should benefit from the changeover soon, the migration of existing users is planned for the coming months

More exciting news

The One Atelier launches tokenization platform for real estate projects

Milan-based company The One Atelier has launched "The One Capital", a new platform for tokenized real estate investments. The aim is to finance early-stage developments in the branded residential real estate sector in particular using blockchain-based structures. The platform is intended to offer developers alternative sources of capital while creating greater transparency and efficiency in project financing. Building on its previous experience with international branded projects, The One Capital focuses on the tokenization of real assets to enable investments in high-quality real estate projects in the early stages of development.

Resilens launches platform for financing climate adaptation

The climate startup Resilens, founded by Oliver Marchand (formerly Carbon Delta), is launching a platform at the beginning of May 2026 that translates climate risks into concrete, financeable adaptation measures for companies and public institutions. The background to this is a large investment gap in climate adaptation, which is becoming increasingly important due to regulatory requirements such as the Climate Adaptation Act. The solution combines geo and risk data with economic assessments and prioritizes measures based on a key figure ("AdaptationReturn") to enable well-founded investment decisions. Initial pilot projects are already underway, including with the city of Worms as part of an EU program. The company is supported by its own funds and strategic investor Karl Gutbrod and is officially presenting its platform at ETH Zurich as part of Zurich Climate Week.

KoRo grows by 44% to 252 million euros in 2025 and becomes profitable

The Berlin-based food brand KoRo achieved sales of 252 million euros in the 2025 financial year, growing by 44%, while at the same time improving profitability and achieving a positive operating cash flow. Despite the weak consumer environment, the company attributes its success primarily to the use of real-time data from its own online store, which is used to make targeted product range decisions in retail. With a predominantly vegan and more than half organic range and a presence in over 15,000 points of sale, KoRo has developed from an online provider into a broad-based omnichannel brand and believes it is well positioned for further growth in Germany and abroad.